The Billings City Council held a work session on July 7, 2025, focusing on the development of policies related to public art and fundraising efforts to support the arts in the community. The meeting addressed several key topics, including the establishment of a fundraising framework and the negotiation powers of the committee overseeing public art initiatives.

The session began with discussions on the immediate need for fundraising to support local arts initiatives. A representative highlighted the potential for collaboration with the Billings Community Foundation, which expressed interest in leading fundraising efforts. The idea of crowd-sourcing funds for indigenous art and other artworks was proposed, emphasizing community involvement in supporting the arts.

A significant point of discussion was the committee's authority to negotiate contracts with donors and artists. Members expressed the need for clear policies that would allow for negotiations on maintenance and removal costs of artworks. The committee aims to ensure that artists are informed and compensated appropriately if their work is removed or requires maintenance.

Council members raised concerns about the financial implications of the proposed policies. One member emphasized the importance of clarity regarding how financial recommendations would be presented to the council, particularly if funding issues could potentially derail the progress made by the committee. The need for a structured approach to ensure that the council's decisions do not undermine the committee's efforts was highlighted.

The conversation also touched on the proposed maintenance fund, with a suggestion that 10% of project costs be allocated for this purpose. Some council members questioned whether this percentage was appropriate, suggesting it might be too high or low based on experiences from other municipalities. The committee agreed to conduct further research to determine the best practices for maintenance funding in public art policies.

In conclusion, the work session underscored the council's commitment to enhancing public art in Billings while navigating the complexities of funding and policy development. The next steps will involve further research on maintenance funding and refining the negotiation powers of the committee to ensure a sustainable approach to supporting the arts in the community.